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Sanctuary for Owls & Birds of Prey

The importance of our Sanctuary where Birds get help

Rehabilitation is our Passion

When viewing our website, you will see that we work to bring people & wildlife together. For us it's about being interactive & we love educating people of all ages about the support we offer birds whether they are wild or captive bred rescues. We also enjoy supporting all other wildlife species on site, which is why we have given most of Netheridge Farm back to support local wildlife. Netheridge Farm, which is the home of the Barn Owl Centre is becoming an amazing place that offers so much, a place where wildlife can gain the protection it deserves!

For those who understand the true meaning of rehabilitation, people who get to meet us soon learn how passionate we are & that rehabilitation plays a key part to our birds lives & our charity's ethos. We enjoy sharing our work & passion with everyone, the younger generation for us are the important ones as these are the next generation of conservationists!

Rehabilitation can in some cases be a very long process that gives no timescale of fixing the root of the problem. It means you have to be very patient, dedicated & provide important stages of care to root out the problem. When cruelty cases such as the one below come forward, we never look backwards. We simple look to the future by working hard to offer the best possible support we can give, please read on & help where you can.

To learn more about the some of the birds that come into our care, please read on
The below relates to a Court Case of cruelty where 26 were placed in our care, video evidence below.

The Barn Owl Centre, which is a small charity joined forces to help a very large organisation to offer immediate rescue support for 26 Owls & Birds of Prey that were being abused. This developed into a year long court case where a Shrewsbury man was eventually found guilty of cruelty. All 26 birds are now with us for the rest of their lives, which enables them to have a second chance in life without further abuse!

News story linking to the below video

A 68-year-old man who claimed to be running an animal rescue centre in Shropshire has escaped an immediate prison sentence after being found guilty of kicking and punching several birds of prey.

William MacKenzie was filmed by neighbours mistreating several protected species of owl at his Shrewsbury home over a two year period.

MacKenzie, of Boscobel Drive, Heath Farm, was eventually reported, which followed the birds being taken away from him on the 6th October 2011, on the same day all birds, 26 in total were transported and placed in the care of a well established Owl charity located in Gloucester.

On the 12th September 2012 William Mackenzie was finally found guilty of nine animal welfare charges and was handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also given a lifetime ban from keeping any type of animal and ordered to wear an electronic tag for six months as well as pay £500 in costs.

During the two-day trial on the 11th and 12th September 2012, Shrewsbury Magistrates Court was shown video footage, filmed by neighbours, The video evidence showed MacKenzie striking and kicking several birds in his garden, including a Snowy Owl, an African Spotted Eagle Owl & a Barn Owl.

MacKenzie was also captured on video mowing his lawn next to a number of distressed Owls, whilst grabbing & throwing to one side like a rag doll on separate occasions a Barn Owl & a Tawny Owl.

Chairman of the magistrates’ bench Mrs Maxine Taplin, said: “There is clear evidence of suffering.” This he clearly denied after being showed the video evidence!

Following the verdict of Guilty, RSPCA inspector Dave McCartney said: “His behaviour is exaggerated by the fact that he was running a rescue centre supposedly caring for sick and injured birds. He was, in his own words, ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ and should have known what he was doing was wrong. “For some birds there was no escape. They were tethered when they were grabbed, punched & kicked.”

MacKenzie said it was his hobby to rescue birds which had been abandoned as pets or involved in road accidents. He was known to exhibit these birds at shows and events across Shropshire to raise money to support his interest

Video contains graphic evidence of this heart wrenching case of Owl Cruelty
All birds in this video are now in the care of the Barn Owl Centre

Message from the Barn Owl Centre

Now these birds are with our charity, this takes the number of birds in our care to 60. Caring for this many birds will always mean that extra financial support will be needed at all times, especially if unforeseen veterinary care is needed.

For all those who like to help to protect Owls, please help us to provide the financial support they so rightly deserve!

If you wish to visit the birds to see how your donation is helping, please give us a call to arrange a visit, we would love to show you around.

If you wish to visit the Barn Owl Centre's home at Netheridge Farm, please give us a call to arrange your personalised visit. We would love to show you around so you can get a full understanding of the importance of our exciting appeal.

'Images below show the conditions the birds were kept in back garden & where they can now live out their lives at the Barn Owl Centre'

William MacKenzie about to punch a beautiful Snowy Owl

Barn Owl being grabbed like a rag doll. Words from the Barn Owl Centre cannot describe this behaviour

Barn Owl kept in disgusting conditions

Hybrid Falcon, how can anyone keep a Bird of Prey like this!

A Red Tailed Hawk kept in aweful conditions

Now living at the Barn Owl Centre, the birds future is bright with caring people